Flare holder



Dec. 23, 1969 l K. J. BATCHELLER 3,

FLARE HOLDER Filed Jan. 10, 1968 INVENTOR.

KENT J. BATCHELLER F I 4 BY M, ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,485,469 FLARE HOLDER Kent J. Batcheller, 152 Tamarack Road, Westwood, Mass. 02090 Filed Jan. 10, 1968, Ser. No. 696,858 Int. Cl. A47g 29/00, 1/04; A471 7/14 US. Cl. 248-126 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for holding automobile flares comprises a main frame having two end plates perforated to receive and hold a plurality of flares. A member attached to the frame is angularly adjustable relatively thereto to cooperate in holding a flare in an elevated position when in use.

This invention relates to a foldable metal frame which can hold a number of flares in a relatively small space, but which can be opened out to support a single flare in a conspicious position to warn away traflic approaching at night. For a more complete understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following description of an embodiment thereof, and to the drawing, of which FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a holder embodying the invention, and in its compact form;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the holder opened out and standing on a horizontal surface;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view, on a smaller scale, of the holder in its extended form hooked onto a typical guard rail along the side of a highway;

FIGURE 4 is a similar view of a holder hooked onto a door handle of an automobile; and

FIGURE 5 is a similar view of a holder hooked onto a rain trough above a door of an automobile.

The device, when folded up and inverted as illustrated in FIGURE 1, is a container for one or more flares F, three flares being shown in the illustration. The main member of the frame is a rigid strip, preferably of metal, of sufficient width for the number of flares to be carried, having its end portions bent at right angles to form an upper end plate 12 and a lower plate 14, these plates being spaced apart by a distance somewhat less than the body length of a flare F. The lower plate 14 is provided with a number of small holes 16 to receive the spikes S of the flares which are stored in the holder. The upper end plate 12 has an equal number of holes 18 of a size to be fitted by the bodies of the flares F.

Pivoted to the member 10 at or near its mid point, as at 19, is a rigid strip 20 having an end portion bent at right angles to form an end plate 22. When the strip 20 is aligned with the main member 10, the end plate 22 rests against the ends of the flares F to hold them in place in the container. When the strip 20 is swung 90 it cooperates with the number 10 to provide a relatively stable support for the device when in use as illustrated in FIG- URE 2.

For the support of an ignited flare, two telescoping V-shaped yokes 24, 26 are attached to the upper end of the container For this purpose ears 28, 30 are secured to the upper end plate 12 and the ends of the yoke 24 are pivotally secured respectively to the ears, suitable means such as bolts 32 and nuts 34 being employed to hold the yoke 24 in any position of angular adjustment relative to the member [0. The legs of the yoke 24 are of sufficicnt length to support the transverse element 36 beyond the spikes S of the stored flares when the yoke 24 is swung down parallel to the member 10 as shown in FIG- URE 1. This serves as a partial protection of surrounding objects from the sharp points of the spikes S when the device is not being used.

, 3,485,469 Patented Dec. 23, 1969 To provide for elevation of a flare so that it will not be hidden by intervening vehicles on a highway, the ends of the second yoke 26 are attached frictionally to the yoke 24. One way of doing this is illustrated on the drawing. As shown, each leg of the yoke 24 has a longitudinal slot 38 extending for nearly all of its length. Near the end of each leg of the yoke 26 a couple of spaced lugs 40 are struck up to ride in one of the slots 38 so as to keep the yokes aligned.

Between each pair of lugs 40 a bolt or rivet 42 extends through a leg of the yoke 26 and the adjacent slot 38, one head of the rivet 42 hearing frictionally against the inner face of the leg of the yoke 24.

To support a flare when in use, a bushing 44 is mounted through the transverse element 46 of the yoke 26 to be fitted by the spike S of the flare, the bushing being sufficiently long to keep the flare aligned with the yokes 24 and 26. The bushing 44 may be partially split as at 48 to grip the spike S frictionally and prevent wobbling of the flare.

Ordinarily a supply of flares is carried in the folded container as shown in FIGURE 1. If a stop on a high way at night is required, the strip 20 is swung around sufliciently to permit the removal of a flare, the yokes are swung out to the desired angle, the yoke 26 is extended from the yoke 24, and the spike of the flare is inserted in the bushing 44. The whole device can now be stood on the road surface if the strip 20 has been swung around at an angle to the number 10, or the device can be hung on any suitable and convenient object, a flange or lip 50 being provided along an edge of the end plate 12 to hook over a guard rail 52 such as is often found along the side of a road, or on a door handle 54 of an automobile, or on the rain gutter 56 above a door of an automobile. To protect the finish of the automobile body if the device is hung thereon, a lip 58 is provided on an edge of the end late 14, with rubber buttons 60 arranged to engage the body of the car and hold the metal parts of the device away from contact therewith.

I claim:

1. A flare holder comprising a main frame having two end plates and a connecting element holding said plates in spaced relation, one of said plates having a plurality of small holes therethrough to receive the spikes of flares to be stored in said frame, the other plate having an equal number of larger holes therethrough to receive the bodies of said flares, the distance between said plates being less than the body length of a flare, and means attached to said frame and angularly adjustble relatively thereto for supporting a flare in an elevated position, said means comprising two elongated members adapted to be disposed for storage alongside of said connecting element.

2. A flare holder as claimed in claim 1, said elongated members being mutually telescoping yokes, one of said members being pivotally attached at one end to one of said end plates, the other elongated member having a bushing at the end thereof to receive the spike of a flare.

3, A flare holder as claimed in claim 1, and a rigid strip centrally pivoted to said main frame, said strip having an end portion bent at right angles thereto and arranged to bear against the ends of flares held by said end plates.

4, A flare holder as claimed in claim 2, in combination with a rigid strip centrally pivoted to said main frame, said strip having an end portion bent at right angles thereto and arranged to bear against the ends of flares held by said end plates.

5. A flare holder as claimed in claim 4, one of said end plates having a lip adapted to hook onto a support- 4, ing object, the other said end plate having a lip with rub- 2,220,407 11/1940 Joss 10237.4 XR ber buttons therein to engage said supporting object when 2,981,510 4/ 1961 Burns 248 126 XR the holder is hung thereon. 3,149,566 9/1964 Klinger.

References Cited 5 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS ABRAHAM FRANKEL, Assistant Examiner 2,053,454 9/1936 Whiteside. 2,070,882 2/1937 Brown.

2,199,990 5/1940 Godfrey. 10237.4; 211-60; 246488 

